Mayson (horse)

Mayson (foaled 16 May 2008) is a British Thoroughbred racehorse who won the July Cup by five lengths in 2012. He is owned by David Armstrong and Cheveley Park Stud and trained by Richard Fahey.

Mayson
Racing silks of David Armstrong
SireInvincible Spirit
GrandsireGreen Desert
DamMayleaf
DamsirePivotal
SexStallion
Foaled16 May 2008
CountryGreat Britain
ColourBay
BreederHighfield Farm
OwnerDavid Armstrong
Cheveley Park Stud
TrainerRichard Fahey
Record18: 5-4-3
Earnings£417,649
Major wins
Abernant Stakes (2012)
Palace House Stakes (2012)
July Cup (2012)

Breeding

Mayson, a bay horse with a white snip[1] was foaled on 16 May 2008 and is a son of Haydock Sprint Cup winner Invincible Spirit. Invincible Spirit has produced a number of top sprinters, including July Cup winner Fleeting Spirit and multiple Group 1 winner Moonlight Cloud, but has also sired some top middle-distance horses such as Prix du Jockey Club winner Lawman. Mayson was bred at David Armstrong's Highfield Farm stud[2] near Coppull in Lancashire[3] and is the first foal of his dam, Mayleaf, a daughter of Nunthorpe Stakes winner Pivotal.[4]

Racing career

2010: Two-year-old season

Mayson's first race came in a five furlong maiden at York in June 2010, where he finished second of the ten runners. He then won a five furlong maiden race at Hamilton Park.[4] He started at 11/2 for the Molecomb Stakes at Glorious Goodwood. Ridden by Paul Hanagan for the third time, he finished in fourth place, about two and a half lengths behind winner Zebedee.[5] Mayson stepped up in trip to win a six furlong race at Ripon. He followed this up by finishing second in the Listed Champion Two Yrs Old Trophy, also run over six furlongs at Ripon.[4] His final start of the 2010 season came in the Mill Reef Stakes at Newbury. Ridden by Neil Callan for the first time, he started at 28/1 and finished in sixth of the seven runners, over five lengths behind winner Temple Meads.[6]

2011: Three-year-old season

Mayson started his three-year-old career in the Great St. Wilfrid Stakes. Starting as a 40/1 outsider he finished in third place, four and a quarter lengths behind winner Pepper Lane.[7] He then finished near the rear of the field in the Ayr Gold Cup, before finishing in third in the Listed Rous Stakes at Ascot. He then finished fourth in the Mercury Stakes at Dundalk and was the runner-up in the Wentworth Stakes at Doncaster on his final start of 2011.[4]

2012: Four-year-old season

Mayson finished third in the six furlong Cammidge Trophy at Doncaster on his re-appearance as a four-year-old.[4] He gained his first Listed success when winning the Abernant Stakes. Ridden by Paul Hanagan he started at 4/1 and was ridden near the front of the 10-runner field. As they entered the final furlong he took the lead and ran on to win by three and a half lengths from the gelding Jimmy Styles,[8] gaining his first victory for twenty months. He followed this up with his first Group win in the Palace House Stakes two weeks later. He started as the 7/2 favourite and was in the middle of the pack early on in the race. As he had done in the Abernant Stakes, he took the lead entering the final furlong and went on to win by three quarters of length from Definightly, who just beat Elusivity for second place.[9] He finished in last place, tailed off behind winner Tiddliwinks, in the Duke of York Stakes.[10] He then finished in fifth place in the Chipchase Stakes after being hampered with over a furlong left to run.[11]

After these two disappointing runs he started at 20/1 for the July Cup, which was run on heavy ground. The field included Al Quoz Sprint winner Ortensia and Golden Jubilee Stakes winner Society Rock. Mayson led the race after about a furlong and was shaken up by Paul Hanagan as they approached the final furlong. He pulled clear to win by five lengths from The Cheka, with Society Rock a further length back in third.[12] The victory was Paul Hanagan's first Group 1 win. After the July Cup Cheveley Park Stud bought a majority share in Mayson.[13]

Mayson travelled to France for the Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp, with the ground being heavy again he started as the 3/1 favourite. He was in the middle field in the early stages, but had made progress through the pack with 400 metres left to run. He took the lead 300 metres out and edged away from Hamish McGonagall in the final 200 metres, but Wizz Kid overtook them both in the final few metres of the race and won by a neck from Mayson, with Hamish McGonagall half a length down in third.[14]

Retirement

Mayson was being trained for the British Champions Sprint Stakes on 20 October, but after suffering a bruised foot in the Prix de l'Abbaye he failed to recover in time and was retired to stud.[15] After Mayson's retirement trainer Richard Fahey said: "He's been a great horse for us. There won't be many horses that have won an Abernant, a Palace House and a July Cup all in the same year."[16] Mayson earned a total of £417,649 during his racing career.[4]

Stud record

Mayson stands as a stallion at Cheveley Park Stud for a service fee in 2020 of £5,000.[17]

Notable progeny

c = colt, f = filly

Foaled Name Sex Major Wins
2016 Oxted c July Cup

Honours

In November 2012, Mayson was very narrowly beaten by the Australian mare Black Caviar for the title of European Champion Sprinter at the Cartier Racing Awards.[18]

Pedigree
Pedigree of Mayson, bay colt, 2008[19]
Sire
Invincible Spirit (IRE)
b. 1997		 Green Desert (USA)
b. 1983		 Danzig
b. 1977		 Northern Dancer
Pas de Nom
Foreign Courier
b. 1979		 Sir Ivor
Courtly Dee
Rafha (GB)
b. 1987		 Kris
ch. 1976		 Sharpen Up
Doubly Sure
Eljazzi
b. 1981		 Artaius
Border Bounty
Dam
Mayleaf (GB)
ch. 2003		 Pivotal (GB)
ch. 1993		 Polar Falcon
b. 1987		 Nureyev
Marie d'Argonne
Fearless Revival
ch. 1987		 Cozzene
Stufida
Bayleaf (GB)
ch. 1995		 Efisio
b. 1982		 Formidable
Eldoret
Bayonne
ch. 1988		 Bay Express
Lambay

Note: b. = Bay, ch. = Chestnut

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References
  1. "Mayson cruises to July Cup victory at Newmarket". BBC Sport. 2012-07-14. Retrieved 2012-10-21.
  2. "David Armstrong". Racehorse-trainer.com. Archived from the original on 2013-01-31. Retrieved 2012-10-21.
  3. "Armstrong, David W, Owners - Individual Owners, Lancashire, UK". Directoryoftheturf.com. Retrieved 2012-10-21.
  4. "Mayson". Racing Post. Retrieved 2012-10-21.
  5. "Molecomb Stakes result". Racing Post. 27 July 2010. Retrieved 2012-10-21.
  6. "Mill Reef Stakes result". Racing Post. 18 September 2010. Retrieved 2012-10-21.
  7. "Great St. Wilfrid Stakes result". Racing Post. 13 August 2011. Retrieved 2012-10-21.
  8. "Abernant Stakes result". Racing Post. 19 April 2012. Retrieved 2012-10-21.
  9. "Palace House Stakes result". Racing Post. 5 May 2012. Retrieved 2012-10-21.
  10. "Duke of York Stakes result". Racing Post. 16 May 2012. Retrieved 2012-10-21.
  11. "Chipchase Stakes result". Racing Post. 30 June 2012. Retrieved 2012-10-21.
  12. "July Cup result". Racing Post. 14 July 2012. Retrieved 2012-10-21.
  13. "Mayson may bid for more success in the QIPCO British Champions Sprint". Liverpool Echo. 2012-10-17. Retrieved 2012-10-21.
  14. "Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp result". Racing Post. 7 October 2012. Retrieved 2012-10-21.
  15. "July Cup winner Mayson retired to stud". Racing Post. 2012-10-14. Retrieved 2012-10-21.
  16. "July Cup hero Mayson bows out". .skysports.com. 2012-10-14. Retrieved 2012-10-21.
  17. "Cheveley Park Stud Mayson". cheveleypark.co.uk. Retrieved 12 July 2020.
  18. "Cartier Awards 2012: Frankel sweeps board and takes top honour for second year". Daily Telegraph. 13 November 2012. Retrieved 2012-11-15.
  19. "Mayson (GB) pedigree". equineline.com. Retrieved 2012-10-21.
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